Battered by an expanding phone-hacking scandal, Britain's best-selling Sunday tabloid, the News of the World, signed off with a simple front page message: "THANK YOU & GOODBYE." Journalists crafted the newspaper's own obituary before sending the tabloid's final edition to the printing presses Saturday night, apologizing for letting readers down but stopping short of acknowledging recent allegations that staff paid police for information. The front page bears an epitaph, "the world's greatest newspaper 1843 - 2011," and a smaller headline with the words: "After 168 years, we finally say a sad but very proud farewell to our 7.5m loyal readers."

DARIEN, N.Y.

Amputee thrown from coaster, dies

Army veteran James Thomas Hackemer, who had served as a sergeant and lost both legs in Iraq, was killed after he was thrown from a roller coaster at an amusement park. Hackemer, 29, was ejected from the 208-foot-tall ride early Friday evening, after climbing aboard during an outing with family and friends. Authorities and a park spokeswoman declined to say at what point in the ride the accident occurred. On Saturday, inspectors were examining the Ride of Steel coaster at the Darien Lake Theme Park Resort, about 30 miles east of Buffalo.

NEW YORK

Sept. 11 site tickets available Monday

People who want to visit the National Sept. 11 Memorial at the World Trade Center site when it opens in two months will be able to start reserving tickets over the Internet starting on Monday. Visitors will be able to get timed passes to see the memorial, which opens to the public on Sept. 12, following events for victims' families on the attack anniversary a day earlier. The parts of the memorial plaza that will be open to visitors in September can only comfortably hold 1,500 people at a time. The memorial's Web address is 911memorial.org.

WASHINGTON

U.S. may cut some aid to Pakistan

The New York Times reported Saturday that the United States could suspend hundreds of millions in military aid to Pakistan unless the two countries' fractured relations improve and Pakistan pursues militant groups more aggressively. The Obama administration is upset with Pakistan for expelling American military trainers and wants tougher action against the Taliban and other militants fighting U.S. troops in Afghanistan, the newspaper said, citing unnamed U.S. officials. The paper reported that up to $800 million in military assistance and equipment could be affected.

Elsewhere

Japan: A strong earthquake with a magnitude of 7.1 hit Japan's northeastern coast today, prompting a tsunami warning for the area still recovering from a devastating quake and killer wave four months ago. There were no immediate reports of damage.

Mexico: Battles between the Zetas gang and two rival drug cartels, the Gulf Cartel and Knights Templar, led to the killing of more than 40 people in a 24-hour span, a federal security spokesman said Saturday.

Israel: About 120 foreign activists were being held in Israeli jails on Saturday and awaiting deportation after arriving at Tel Aviv's airport over the weekend as part of a solidarity mission with the Palestinians, a government official said.